Half to john van noedsteand



G. R. GRAYJ SUNSHADE HAT.

(No Model.)

I NVE NTO R By hzs Attorneys,

Patented Dec. 13,1881.

WITNESSES:

M, 01W W "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GONSALVO R. GRAY, OF BROOKLYN, E. D., NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN VAN NORDSTRAND, OF SAME PLACE.

SU NSHADE-HAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,803, dated December 13, 1881.

Application filed May 16, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GONSALVO R. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, E. D., Kings county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Sunshade- Hats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of sunshades which are to be attached to the person of the wearer, and the special construction herein shown is intended to be attached to the head or hat of the wearer. The shade is constructed to be expanded and collapsed in the manner of an umbrella, and it is mounted on extensible supports, which are secured to a suitable head-band.

The novel features of the invention lie in the peculiar construction of the lock which keeps the shade expanded and its releasing mechanism, and in the extensible supports and headband, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the shade on a small scale, showing it in position on the wearers head. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views on a large scale, designed to betterillustrate the working parts. The former shows the shade-top expanded and the latter shows it partly collapsed.

Let A represent the cover, B B the ribs, and O O the braces, of the shade-top, arranged in the ordinary way employed in parasols and umbrellas. The ribs are hinged to a thimble, D, in any good way, and the braces are hinged in a similar way to a nave, E. To the thimble D are secured two or more spring-catches, a a, provided with curved extremities, which, when the shade-top is expanded, engage a groove, b, or catch behind a shoulder on the nave E. I prefer to employ three or four spring-catches, a a, arranged at equal distances apart around the thimble D, and to round or cone the upper end of the nave E, so that when pressed upward it may the better center itself and spread the catches, which spring, by their own elasticity, into the groove 11. To release the catches,

.so that the shade may be collapsed, I provide a rod, F, which passes through the thimbleD and, by preference, fits snugly therein. On

the upper or outer end of this knob I fix a knob, c, for convenience in grasping it, and on its lower or inner end is formed a spreader, d, which is surrounded by the spring-catches a a. By grasping the knob 0 between the fingers and pressing down the top of the shade with the thumbs, the spreader d is drawn up and catches a a pressed outward until their curved extremities are freed from the groove 1) in the nave. The shade may then be collapsed or closed.

I may in some cases provide the spreader d with astem or prolongation, as shown by dotted lines at f in Fig. 3, to take into or engage a bore or aperture through the nave E. This would serve to steady the spreader when the sunshade is to be collapsed.

G is a band, of some suitable material, arranged to be buckled or fastened about the headl To this band (which may be wholly or in part of elastic webbing or leather,) are secured extensible supports H, the upper ends of which are hinged or otherwise secured to the braces O of the shade-top? These supports are made in two parts, which are arranged to overlap each other and to be secured by a setscrew, 0, or similar device. This forms an extensible joint, whereby the shade-top may be set higher or lower, or be adjusted at one side higher than the other, as shown in Fig. 1

In lieu of providing one part of the support with a thimble or keeper for the other to slide through, I may make one part tubular and telescope them, and as the structure is necessarily quite light, the two parts may be constructed to stand at any degree of extension by friction alone, and without the employment of a set-screw or equivalent fastening.

The band G being flexible, and all of the rigid portions being extended nearly parallel and side by side when the shade is collapsed, it will be seen that the entire structure may be easily placed in the pocket when closed.

I am aware that collapsible sunshades proor hat of the wearer are not new, and I am also aware that such a shade has been made somewhat like an ordinary parasol with an abbreviated handle, and mounted on supports vided with flexible bands to encircle the head extending from the head-band up to the distending-braces; but I am not aware that any of these have employed an expanding springcatch for keeping the shade distended, Whereby the shade may be collapsed by claspifig the knob which appears on the outside of the shade and pressing upon the'top. of the latter; nor am I aware that any shades of this character heretofore devised have employed extensible and adjustable supports, whereby the altitude and inclination of the shade may be varied, as

in mine. By this means 1 am enabled to pro-- tect the head against slanting as well as vertical rays of the sun.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A collapsible sunshade provided with extensible supports, secured at their lower ends to a flexible band to encircle the head, and hinged at their upper ends to the braces of the shade-top, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the cover, braces,

spreader d,

and ribs of the shade-top, of the grooved nave to which the braces are hinged, the thimble to which the ribs are hinged, the springcatches attached to said thimble and arranged spreader secured to the rod which passes through the thimble, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. lhe combination, with the cover, the ribs, and the braces of the shade-top, the thimble D, grooved nave E, catches a a, rod I and of the extensible supports H and flexible band Gr, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

GONSALVO R. GRAY.

Witnesses:

HENRY OONNETT, ARTHUR O. FRASER.

to engage the groove in the nave, and the 

